Weighing-machine



(No Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 579,453. Patented Mar. 23, 1897.

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ullluum (No Modem 3 sheets-snm 2.

P. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 23, 1897.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A 1:". H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MAGHNE.

10,579,453 Patented Mar. Z3, 1897.

m'tneeszses: In van to2@ UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

FRANCS ll. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

iNElGHlNG-li/IACHINE.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,453, dated March 23,1897.

Application filed December 9, 1896. Serial No. 615,036. (No model.)

To all whom t may ccnccrw.-

Beitknown that I, FRANCIS H. Riot-miens@ citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iniVeighing-Machines, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic weighing-machineswhich are especially adapted for weighing such granular materials assugar, meal, doc.

One object of this invention is to furnish a weighing-m achine of theclass specified which is especially adapted for use in stores where itis desired to weigh ont and pack predetermined qua-ntities of mateiral,and to so construct and organize the cooperative mechanisms of theweighing-machine that the same will be simple, durable, and effective,and whereby the stream of material may bc readily controlled and saidstream cut off with the minimum range of movement of thestreamcontrolling instrumentalities, and whereby said stream-controllinginstrumentalities will be operated with reduced resistance as comparedwith the operation of stream-con trollers in machines as heretoforeconstructed.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a weighiug-machineof the class specified, improved stream-controlling mechanismcomprehending two operativelyconnected stream-controllers pivotallysupported one above the other for movement in relatively oppositedirections and in different arcs, and an actuator embodying means forimparting to said stream-controllers so-called cnt-oit strokes inrelatively opposite directions and having relatively differentvelocities at corresponding points in the length ol' said strokes,

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,Figure l is a side elevation of a weighing-machine embodying my presentimprovements, said .figure showing the elements of the weighing-niacinnein their normal positions or in the positions they occupy when materialis being supplied tothe load-receiver of said machine, a portion of thedrip-box being roken away. Fig. is a rear elevation of the machine asseen from the right hand in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of theremovable drip-box grating removed. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. lof a portion of the upper part of the weighing-machine on a relativelylarge scale,showing the streamcontrollers in their cut-otf positions orin the position they occupy when the load-receiver of theweighing-machine is in its overpoised position and the cut-oft valve isin position to cut off the supply of material to the loadreceiver. Fig.is a plan view ofthe weighing-machine as seen from above in Fig. 4, aportion of certain of the parts thereof being broken away to moreclearly illustrate other features of the machine. Fig. o' is alongitudinal section of thc stream supplying and controlling clements*towit, the main supply chute or hopper, the cut-ott' valve, and theintermediate stream-controlling chuteand shows the stream-con trollingchute and valve in the positions they occupy when the valve is in itsfully-open position and the maximum volume of stream is being suppliedto thc load-receiver. Fig, 7 is view similar to Fig. showing thestream-controllcrs in the positions they occupy when supplying adrip-stream to the load-receiver. Fig. S is a view similar to Figs. 6and 7, showing the streani-controllers in their cut-olf positions. Figs.O, l0, and ll are side views of the two streain-controllers anda portionof the streamsupply mechanism as seen from the right hand in Fig. Q andshowing these elements in positions corresponding, res1')ectively,withthe positions thereof shown in Figs. t3, 7, and

S, said figures being intended to show the positions assumed by theactuating means during the cut-oft movement of said controllers; andFig. l2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path of movement andrelative velocities of the two strcain-controllers.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

The framework for carrying the operative parts of the machine comprises,in the preferred form thereof shown most clearly in Figs. l and of thedrawings, a suitable column or upright, (designated in a general way by(1,) which is preferably tubular and has at the upper end thereof anoutwardly-extending arm or ln'aeket 2, adapted for supporting the mainsupply chute or hopper H of the weighing-machine, and also having at apoint considerably below the arm 2 an outwardly-extending bracket or arm3, adapted IOO for supporting the discharge-hopper P, uprights orsupports 4 and 5 being' provided on the bracket 3 at opposite sides,respectively, thereof, which carry the knife-edge bearings (i and 7,which support the bucket-carrying beams B and B ot' the weighingmechanism, said beams being located, respectively, at opposite sides otthe column C, as will be un derstood by reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 5of the drawings.

p ln the form thereof shown in the drawings the arms or brackets 2 and 3for supporting the supply-hopper and discharge-hopper, respectively, areshown located on the column C in horizontal parallelism, and the outerends thereof are shown in the nature ot rings which encircle saidhoppers, the axes of the rings being in vertical alinement.

The hoppers H and P, respectively, are shown of tubular form withconical discharge ends, and are also shown furnished withcircumferential i'langes 2 and 5, respectively, adapted for resting uponthe upper faces of the ring portions of the brackets 2 and 3, as will bereadily understood by reference to the drawings. This provides aconvenient means of attachment for the hoppers. It facilitates theirremoval and avoids the necessity of using attaching screws or bolts forholding said hoppers in place.

The main supply hopper or chute 1I may, it will be obvious, be of anysuitable construction for receiving the material and for delivering thesame in a requisite volume to the stream-controlling elements whichcontrol the supply of said stream in its passage to the load-receiver orbucket of the weighing` mechanism.

rlhe bucket (designated in a general way by G) may be of the well-knownsinglechambered7 type, and it is herein shown eylindrical incross-section and conical at its lower discharge end.

rl`he bucket G is shown carrying a pair of V-shaped bearings orknife-edges 8 and i), which are shown resting upon a pair of pivots orknife-edges S and 9', carried by the opposite counterweightedscale-beams B and B of the beam mechanism, said scale-beams B and B'being in turn provided with a pair of knife-edges (5 and 7, which aresupported upon the t-shaped bearings carried on the uprights i and ofthe bracket The bucket G is shown provided at the discharge end thereofwith a closer, which is designated in a general way by L and which isshown in dotted lines in l-7igs. l and t, and which may be of anysuitable general construction, said closer being pivotally supported at13 at the lower end el' the beam, near one side of the discharge-openingthereof, and consisting ot a closer-plate 14, having eounterweightedarms 15 and l5', adapted i or returning the closer to its closedposition at ter the contents of the bucket are discharged.

As a convenient means for supporting the bucket-closer L a rod or link17, which eonstitutes one member of a toggle, is pivotally connected atits upper endto a rocker 1U, which is pivotally supported on the bucketG and constitutes the other member of the toggle, the opposite end ofsaid rod or link being pivotally connected to the bucketcloser L in suchmanner that when the bucket is in its normal closed position the threepivots of the toggle will be approximatelyin alinement and the upperpivot of the connecting-rod 17 will be above the rocker-pivot, so thatsaid rocker, when engaged by a suitable detent device, will be heldagainst oscillatory movement with a minimum pressure.

As a means for normally holding the rocker against oscillation acounterweighted latch 1S is shown provided, it being` shown pivotallysupported on the bucket G above and slightly at one side of thepivot-bearings oil said bucket, the forward end of said latch being inposition to engage a detent-ar1n, as 16, on the rocker when the closeris shut, the rocker-engaging end of said latch in the organizationthereof shown in the drawings being swung upward by the counter-weightedopposite end thereof to engage said rocker and being depressed torelease the rocker.

The stream-controlling mechanism in the preferred construction andorganization thereof shown in the drawings comprises in part twostream-eontrollers, (designated in a general way by S and S,respeetively,) which are pivotally supported one above the other foroscillatory movement intermediate the bucket or load-receiver G and thesupply chute or hopper ll, the upper controller being in the nature oian oscillatory stream-diverter, the chute-valve and the lower controllerbeing in the nature ot astream-reducing or cutolt valve.

rlhe upper and lower stream-controllers, which may be hereinafterreferred to as the coscillatory chute7 am cut-oil valve, reA spectively,are pivotally supported, the tormer above the latter, upon dependingarms 19 and 19, located at opposite sides, respeetively, of thehopjer-supporting bracket 2, the cut-oit valve having its axis near thelower discharge end of the oscillatory chute and considerably below andslightly forward of the axis of movement of said chute, so that the twocontrollers will be adapted to have oscillatory movements in the sameplane but in different arcs.

The cu t-olt valve or lower stream-controller S is shown furnished atopposite sides thereoi' with pivot-arms 2O and 20', which are pivotallysupported in bearings near the eX- treme lower ends ol' the twodepending arms 19 and 19. rlhis valve may be of any suitableconstruction, it being herein shown sin/iilar in a general way to thevalve designated by in Patent No. 535,738, dated March 12, 1805, towhich reference may be had.

The upper stream-controller or oscillatory chute S, which is similar ina general way to the oscillatory chute described in the patent ICO IIO

referred to, has at opposite sides thereof outwardly-extending pivotarms2l and 2l', which are shown (see Fig. 3) pivotally supported in bearingsformed in the depending arms 19 and 19' at points considerably above thebearings in which the pivots of the lower stream-controller S aresupported.

For imparting a cut-off stroke to the cutoff valve or lowerstream-controller S, l have provided, in connection with said valve, avalve-elosin g actuator, which in the preferred form thereof shown mostclearly in Figs. l and il: of the drawings comprises a valveclosing cam24, fixed to and extending upward from one of the pivot-arms of saidvalve, and a valve-closing lever 25, pivot-ally supported at 2G', nearthe extreme forward end thereof, on a projection on one of the dependingarms of the supply-hopper-supporting bracket. rllhe valve-closin g camis shown havin a cam-face 24', and the valve-elosin g lever will inpractice be provided with a roller, as indicated by dotted lines at 27,Fig. a, 'which roller will be secured to the lever in some suitablemanner (not shown) at a point intermediate the pivoted andcounterweighted ends thereof and in position to travel over thesuecessive portions of the earn-face 2t, said camface being so shapedand disposed with relation to the axis of movement of the valve that thevalve-actuating' lever will act with a gradually-increased force as ittravels from the forward toward the rearward end of said camface,whichforce will be materially augmented after the valve has reached the dripposition, (shown in Fig. 7,) so as to effect the complete closing of thevalve with great rapidity.

As a means for imparting a cut-off movement of gradually-decreasedvelocity to the upper stream-controller S or oscillatory chuteconcurrently with the cut-olf stroke of the lower stream-controller orvalve S the two stream-controllers are cooperatively connected togetherby an actuating-connector, which in the preferred form thereof hereinshown is in the nature of a link 2S, which is pivotally connected atopposite ends thereof, as shown at 29 and 30, respectively, to the lowerstream-controller and upper streamcontroller at points so located withrelation to the axes of movement of the respective stream-controllersthat the connector will at all times intersect a line drawn through thepivot-points of both controllers, and so that one of saidstream-controllers will have a cutoft' stroke of grad ually-increasedvelocity, while the other of said stream-controllers will have asimultaneous cut-off stroke of gradually-decreased velocity. Forconvenience the upper and lower ends ofthe con r: ecting-link 28 arepivotally connected to oppositel y-disposed crank-arms 3l andrespectively, iixed to the pivot-arms 2l and 20 of the upper and lowerstream controllers, respectively7 the upper pivotal point 30 of the linkbeing shown located, when the stream-controllers are in their openpositions, below and slightly in the rear, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 1,0f the pivotal point of the upper stream-controller7 and thelower pivotal point of said link is lo-.

cated in advance of and considerably above the pivotal point of thelower stream-controller.

The pivotal points 2f) and 30 of the connecting-link 2S are so locatedwith relation to the axis of movement of the respectivestream-controllers that during the closing or eut-off movement of thelower stream-controller or cut-off valve the lower portion of the linkgradually approaches its dead-center position with relation to the axisof movement of the valve, thus decreasing the leverage and theconsequent velocity imparted to the upper stream-controller through themedium of the link 28. rlhis operation is reversed during the openingmovement of the two stream-controllers, as it will be seen that theupper stream.-controller has a graduallyincreased velocity during theopening movement, and the lower stream-controller has agradually-decreased velocity during such movement.

For effecting an opening movement of the valve or lowerstream-controller S means connected with the oscillatory chute or upperstream controller willpreferablybe employed, the scale-beam I3constitutingl a convenient device for transmitting the force to thevalve through the medium of the upper streamcontroller and theactuating-connector between said stream-eontroller and said valve. Thisactuating means consists, preferably, of a thrust-rod 33, which ispivotally connected at its upper end to a crank-arm Sat, fixed to one ofthe pivot-arms of the oscillatory chute or upper stream-controller, thelower end of said thrust-rod being supported upon the inner or poisingend of the beam B, and as a means tor retaining the thrust-rod inoperative relation with the beam it is pivotally connected, at aconvenient point intermediate its ends, by means of a link 33, to aportion of or lixture on the bucket or loadreceiver, as will be seen byreference to Figs. l and 4- of the drawings. The operation of thethrust-rod with relation to the oscillatory chute is substantially thesame as the ordinary thrust-rod employed in connection with the mainvalve in automatic weighing-machines such as described in patentsheretofore granted to me, it being apparent that on the ascent of thebucket G the thrust-rod will be forced upward by means of the poisingend of the scale-beam, which shifts the oscillatory chute or upperstream-controller from the position shown in Fig. et to that shown inFig. l, and this movement of the oscillatory chute is transmitted to thevalve S through the medium of the actuating connector or link 28, ashereinbefore described.

As a means for limiting the throw of the counterpoising end of thescale-beam and the consequent ascending and descending movements of thebucket I have provided SSx ICO

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two oppositely-disposed stop-,arms 35 and 3G, which are shown formedintegral with and extending outward from the rear side of the column Cof the framework, the upper stoparm limiting the descending movement ofthe bucket, and the lower stop-arm limiting the ascending movement efsaid bucket.

In connection with the latch which holds the shiftable member orbucket-closer against premature movement a suitable hand-operableactuator or load-discharging device will be employed for effecting therelease of the shiftable member of the bucket mechanism to discharge theload into the discharge conduit or hopper P. This means, in thepreferred form thereof shown most clearly in Figs. l and et of thedrawings, comprises a latch-tripper 237, preferably pivotally carried onthe thrust-rod 33, located in position to engage and throw the latch 18out of engagement with the rocker 1G; a tripper-aetuating rod 3S,pivotally connected at its upper end to the inner end of thelatch-tripper and pivotally connected at its lower end preferably to alever 30, (shown pivoted substantially midway its length on an arm i0 onthe discharge-hopper-supporting bracket 53,) and a bell-crank 4l,pivotally supported on a suitablearm preferably formed on thedischargehopper-supportin g bracket, said lever having one end thereofpivotally connected to the lever 3Q and having its opposite lower end inposition to be operated by hand and thrown inward, as shown in dottedlines in Fig, 2, to move the tripper-rod forward and actuate the tripperto release the latch from engagement with the rocker and thereby allowthe bucketcloserto swing open, as shewninFig. et. This hand-operablemechanism for releasing the bucket-closer may be variously modifiedwithout departure from the present invention, and in some casesautomatically-operable closereontrolling means may be employed in lieuof the hand-operable means described, although the hand-operable meansis preferable for use in the class of weighing-machin es having meanswhereby the material may be bagged after the same is weighed.

As a means for facilitating the bagging of the weighed material l haveprovided, in connection with the framework of the machine, abag-supporting apparatus which in the p eferrcd form thereof shown is inthe nature of a cylindrical conically-ended dripbox, (designated in ageneral way by l),) which is adjustablysupported below the dischargeconduit or hopper P, said drip-box, in the preferred form thereof hereinshown most clearly in Fig. l of the drawings, comprisingl a tubular bodyportion 43, having aconical discharge end provided with a cut-off gateor closer 4landa bag-supporting grate or cover 45, removably seated inthe upper end of said body portion and in position to support a bag,such as B, with its receiving end surrounding the discharge end of thedischarge hopper or conduit l).

Asa means for adjustably supporting the drip-box D, l have provided arecessed boxsupporting bracket It, the inner end of which is adjustablysupported on a vertically-disposed guide-bar t7, supported on the lowerportion of the column C of the fra-n'lcwork, with its longitudinal axisin parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the column C and thecoincident axes of the main supply-hopper, bucket-discharge hopper, anddrip-box.

For the purpose of concentrating the applied forces due to the flow ofmaterial and to the weight of the supply-hopper, bucket,discharge-hopper, and drip-box the longitudinal axes of these severalparts are substantially coincident and in parallelism with thelongitudinal axis of the supporting-column C, and it will be furtherseen that the pivots for the scale-beams which support the bucket arealso in alinement in the vertical plane of the axes of thesupply-hopper, bucket, discharge-hopper, and drip-box, which are locatedone below the other in the respective order named.

The weighing operation of the weighingmachine may proceed uninterruptedwhile the bag is being iilled with the material. discharged from thebucket Cr, through the discharge-conduit l), into said bag. ln theinterim which ensues between the discharge ot a predeterminedbucket-load and the completion of a succeeding bucket-load the operatormay shake and pack the contents of the bag to any extent withoutinterfering with the weighing operation, and afterward the filled baf)`may be removed and another bag placed in position for receiving thesucceeding bucket-load.

The latch-trippi ng mechanism after being released will immediatelyreturn to the normal position thereof (shown in Fig. l) by means of aretracting device, such as the spring 50, in connection with the lever30.

Interlocking mechanism is employed for preventing a premature openingand closing movement of the bucket-closer and a premature opening andclosing movement of the valve of the stream-eontrollers, whichinterlocking mechanism maybe substantially the same as like mechanism inweighirig-machines described in patents heretofore granted to me.

For holding the bucket with its longitudinal axis in vertical alinementduring the reciprocatory movement thereof said bucket is connected atits upper end with the column C by means of a link l,which is pivotallyconnected at one end to said bucket and at its opposite end to saidcolumn.

In Fig. 12 l have illustrated in diagram the relative paths andvelocities of the two stream-controllers, the arcs a and l)representing, respectively, the paths of movement of thedischarge-opening of the valve, and the forward point of the oscillatorychute and the radial lines (designated by c, d, c, f, and g) indicatingthe successive distances travl ersed in opposite directions,respectively, in

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equal lengths of time by these points a and h of the twostream-controllers. By reference to this diagrammatic figure it will beseen that the lower stream-controller has a cut-off stroke in thedirection of the arrow (designated by h) of gradually-increasingvelocity, whereas the upper stream-controller has a cut-off stroke in anopposite direction (designated by the arrow h) of gradually-decreasingvelocity, and vice versa.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In a weighing-machine, thecombination, with a suitable frame and with a load-receiver andstream-supply means, of two oscillatory stream-controllers havingoutwardly-extending pivot-arms supported in the frame, one above theother and below the stream-supply means; a crank-arm carried on theupper pivot-arm, with its outer end below and in advance of said arm; acrank-arm carried on the lower pivot-arm, with its outer end in the rearof said lower arm; a link pivotally connecting the two crank-arms andhaving its longitudinal axis intersecting a line drawn through the upperand lower pivot-arms; and means for actuating one stream-controllerwhereby opposing movements of graduallyincreasing andgradually-decreasing velocities, respectively, are simultaneouslyimparted to the two stream-controllers.

2. In a weighing-machine, the combination; of a frame comprising atubular column having a suitable supporting-base and having twooutwardly-extending parallel supportingbrackets, the outer ends of whichare recessed to form hopper-encircling rings; a supplyhopper extendingthrough the recess of the upper bracket and peripherally hanged forsupporting said hopper on said bracket; a discharge-hopper having itsdischarge end projected through the recess of the lower bracket andhaving a peripheral flange for supporting said hopper on said bracket;

weighing mechanism interposed between the two hoppers and including areciprocatory bucket; a scale-beam supported on the framework; andstop-arms located on the column one above the other in position forengaging and limiting the movements of the scalebeam.

3. The combination, with a vertically-disposed column having a suitablebase and having outwardlyextending horizontallydisposed brackets locatedone above the other, of a supply-hopper supported on the upper bracket;a discharge-hopper supported on the lower bracket; weighing mechanismembodying a reciprocatory bucket located between the two hoppers; abag-supporting drip-box located below the discharge-hopper, with itsaxis in vertical alinement with the axes of the discharge-hopper,bucket, and supply-hopper, and in parallelism with the longitudinal axisof the vertical column.

et. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a suitable frame andwith weighing mechanism including a reciprocatory bucket; of asupply-hopper and a discharge-hopper located the former above, and thelatter below, the bucket, with their axes in alinement with the axis ofsaid bucket; a bag-supporting drip-box located below the dischargehopperand having at the lower end thereof a closer and at the upper endthereof a removable bag-supporting grate; and adjusting and supportingmeans for said drip-box.

5. In a weighing-machine, a framework for supporting the operativemechanism, comprising a vertical column having two horizontally-disposedhopper-supporting brackets located one above the other;scale-beamsupporting bearings located on the lower bracket, one at eachside thereof; and oppositely-disposed scale-beam stops located on thecolumn.

FRANCIS I-I. RICHARDS.

Vitnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, F. N. CHAsE.

